The Schlumberger Foundation announces 162 Faculty for the Future fellowships, nurturing its community of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) from developing and emerging countries

The Schlumberger Foundation has selected the most recent Faculty for the Future women in STEM from emerging and developing countries engaged in post-graduate studies at universities around the world. Out of 555 applications received for the 2018-2019 academic year, 50 new Fellowships were granted and 112 were renewed, demonstrating the dedication of the Foundation to its existing grantees and their projects while continuing to increase the community in areas least represented.

The research focus of this year’s cohort of new Fellows continues to be varied, with the top three disciplines being engineering, biological sciences and physics. Most of the research proposals of the new cohort of Fellows are related to the challenges faced in their home countries and regions and the Fellows are determined to use their scientific knowledge upon their return to solve these challenges.

“Following a targeted call for applications, the Foundation received what could be the best batch of highly-qualified candidates ever. Consistent with prior years, we continue to prioritize renewing grantees as long as their academic progress continues to match the Foundation goals. We have also added new Fellows who are academically strong candidates and who intend to return to their home countries as powerful role models in universities currently underrepresented by our existing community”, notes Roseline Chapel, President of the Schlumberger Foundation. “The women joining the Faculty of the Future community this year are strong academics who are working to solve local, regional and international challenges through their scientific research. They will without a doubt bring their newly acquired knowledge back to their native regions on completion of their studies and inspire other women to follow in their footsteps.”

The fellowships represent the Schlumberger Foundation’s long-term investment in a community of highly qualified and recognized role models who are contributing to narrowing the gender gap in STEM disciplines by inspiring more women to study science. Fellowships are awarded based on the applicant’s academic ability, leadership qualities and engagement in outreach activities towards underserved communities with STEM as a development instrument in their home countries. Fellowship recipients have all achieved academic excellence throughout their studies, often despite considerable challenges and traditional barriers to education.

About Faculty for the FutureThe program’s long-term goal is to generate conditions that result in more women pursuing scientific careers by lowering the barriers women face when entering STEM disciplines, thus reducing the gender gap. Faculty for the Future Fellows are expected to return to their home countries after completion of their studies to contribute to economic, social and technological advancement by strengthening the STEM teaching and research faculties of their home institutions, and to pursue positions in the public sector where their newly acquired technical and scientific skills can help provide evidence-based support for STEM policy making. In so doing, they become powerful role models and help to inspire other girls and women to pursue scientific careers.

Since its launch in 2004, 683 women from 81 developing and emerging countries have received Faculty for the Future fellowships to pursue PhD and Post-Doctorate study in STEM. The program also helps build a community for the Fellows through Forums, both online and in person.

About the Schlumberger Foundation The Schlumberger Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports science and technology education. Recognizing the link between science, technology, and socio-economic development, as well as the key role of education in realizing individual potential, the Schlumberger Foundation flagship program is Faculty for the Future.